How the State of Origin series shapes the identity of New South Wales and Queensland

The annual best-of-three rugby league series known as the State of Origin has long been one of the most-watched sporting events in Australia. It is a premium event that features fierce competition in what is considered the pinnacle of rugby, as it attracts a large number of followers worldwide. The series started as an interstate experiment but has grown to become the greatest rivalry in Australian sports.

Historical Background

The series was established in 1982 to solve the imbalance in interstate competition. At the time, the traditional interstate competition rules allowed professional players to play for the state in which they resided at the time. This made it easy for many skilled players to move from Queensland to New South Wales to stay in cities such as Sydney. However, it also made it difficult for Queensland to pose as high-level competition for New South Wales.

The rugby team for Queensland lost constantly to New South Wales. The gap between the two interstate teams was evident from the first interstate game in 1908, where New South Wales beat Queensland by a margin of 43-0. To put things into perspective, New South Wales had a 75% win rate against Queensland from the interstate games’ inception until 1956. The dominance rose between 1956 and 1981 when the win rate soared to 96.2%, as Queensland won only 3.8% of their matches.

During a rugby game in 1977, famous Australian actor Paul Hogan stated that most talented footballers from Queensland end up processed through a New South Wales poker machine. He insinuated that the relocation of most professional players was due to the influx of money into Sydney clubs after the introduction of pokies.

Soon enough, influential individuals in the field pushed for a different league concept due to concerns about the unimpressive performance of the Queensland team. The first to suggest a change was Jack Reardon, a former Queensland captain and Australian vice-captain. He proposed that rugby players from Queensland who played professionally in Sydney should be allowed to represent their state in the interstate rugby league.

The first experimental State of Origin game was held in July 1980 as a third match after two games played under the traditional rugby rules. The first two games left Queensland with two losses, and the New South Wales media tagged the third match to be a three-game wonder. Tickets for the match sold out quickly, and the total number of seats booked exceeded that of the opening match for the 1979 series.

The game brought Queensland its first victory in a long time, as the team clinched the title with a 20-10 score against New South Wales. Betting on rugby and some other sports games was not as easy as it is now. A good example is how fans could bet on horses but couldn’t do the same for games such as the State of Origin series until 1983, when the Totalisator Agency Boards began to take bets on sports. Today, it is very straightforward for fans to engage in sports betting at an online casino NZ to support their favorite players and teams.

Queensland vs. New South Wales: Current Outlook

Fans can easily identify Queensland and New South Wales players in a typical match. Queensland players usually exit in their maroon jerseys, while New South Wales players wear blue jerseys. Their distinct jersey colors have prompted worldwide nicknames for the teams as the Blues and the Maroons. 

Interstate rugby competitions also take place in other Australian states, but this series is the most watched in the country. It is streamed in more than 90 countries, with a strong following in New Zealand.

The series has also evolved to include the female league, which was pioneered by Nellie Doherty and Molly Cane. The competition was established in 1999 and gives the women’s team a chance to gun for the Nellie Doherty Cup. The New South Wales team has only won the competition five times, while the Queensland Maroons won 17 straight games against their opponent from the inaugural game until 2016. This streak makes them a dominant figure in the Women’s State of Origin series.

The rivalry between Queensland and New South Wales has earned them their reputation as one of the fiercest teams in Australia thanks to the competition field being leveled by allowing players to play for their state of origin.